|
As we welcome 2024, I am grateful for your continued support and engagement at the Capitol. Your voice, opinions, and stories are so valuable as we strive to create a Minnesota that reflects the needs and aspirations of everyone.
The 2023 legislative session was historic, and we prioritized the well-being of Minnesotans every step of the way. From healthcare to housing, safety to infrastructure, our focus was on creating a better future for all.
Working collaboratively with Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan, and our Senate partners, we successfully passed transformative legislation that positions our state for long-term prosperity. We made historic investments in education, the cornerstone of a vibrant economy. We championed workers' rights, ensuring that everyone can provide for their families without jeopardizing job security and that workplaces are safe and inclusive. In our commitment to a sustainable future, we invested in the green economy, promoting economic and job growth while advancing our goals of climate sustainability.
We made strides in making healthcare more accessible, expanding access to essential providers, and laying the groundwork for comprehensive changes that will positively impact the lives of Minnesotans.
As we reflect on our accomplishments, it's crucial to acknowledge that there is much more work ahead of us. Your input remains instrumental in shaping the legislative agenda for 2024. I am already hard at work on plans that will build upon our successes and address the challenges that lie ahead. Your partnership, whether through emails, calls, or visits, has been a driving force behind our movement. I am immensely grateful for your dedication to our shared vision, and I can't wait to build on our great work for the state we all love.
Thank you once again for your support, and I look forward to another year of collaboration, progress, and positive change for the great state of Minnesota.
I?m wishing you a joyous end of the year and a prosperous 2024!
Here is an update on what?s been happening in our community!
You?re Invited to a Coffee Hour
On Friday, January 12, I?ll be holding a coffee hour from 9-11 am at She Royal. I am continuing to refine my legislative priorities for the next session and would appreciate your input. I hope to see you there!
Closing the Gender and Racial Pay Gap
This year, I authored legislation aimed at bringing Minnesota one step closer to narrowing the gender and racial pay gap. The law, which takes effect January 1st, will prohibit employers from asking about or considering an applicant?s past or current pay during the hiring process, relying on a job applicant?s skills and qualifications to set pay.
Women, people of color, and Indigenous people are persistently paid less than their white male colleagues. Using pay history to determine future pay contributes to and reinforces Minnesota?s pay disparities.?
Anyone who believes they were asked about their past or current pay during the hiring process should contact the Minnesota Department of Human Rights by completing this form.
Rethinking I-94 Updates
Community input has been essential during the Rethinking I-94 process. Recently, Community Voices has launched as an effort to amplify the stories of community members who live, commute, work, visit a business, or frequent one of the many entertainment or sports venues in the Rethinking I-94 corridor. You can learn more and submit your story here.??
?
These stories help MnDOT better understand how the community uses the I-94 corridor between Minneapolis and St. Paul and the transportation network. The feedback they receive will also be used to show how the various alternatives may impact travel experiences. Some individuals will be contacted for further information and their stories will be shared (with permission) with the public.
Other New Laws Taking Effect in January
On January 1st, there are several new laws taking effect. Among the key bills taking effect are Earned Sick and Safe Time, worker protections in meat-packing factories, tenant protections, and more.?
To read information from nonpartisan House Public Information and House Research about the new laws, click here and here.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to reach out anytime if you need assistance or have questions at [email protected] or 651-297-7087. You can also follow my Facebook page.?
In community,
Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura
Minnesota House of Representatives
|
